Judiciary calls for more use of video for witnesses

Video conferencing for witnesses in court is still a headache, according to the association of magistrates and judges, who say they are willing to go online if given the necessary tools.

The Association of Magistrates and Judges of Malta said that while video conferencing has been rolled out in some court rooms, operating them in every hall was still too difficult to coordinate in the bustling Valletta courthouse.

The association was contacted after the lack of video conferencing for witnesses was raised by doctors. 

Times of Malta reported last week that surgeons are being forced to postpone dozens of operations every month because they are being summoned to testify in court.

Hermann Borg Xuereb, an ENT, head and neck surgeon, called for the regular use of online testimony that would allow surgeons to give evidence from a room within the hospital without disrupting their entire workday to the detriment of patients.

Reacting to the concerns, the judiciary’s association said video conferencing had already been available through one portable system. However, over the years this had proven difficult to operate efficiently in all 25 halls.

This, the association said, rendered giving...